Actors Park Yoo-chun, Yim Si-wan, Kim Woo-bin (OSEN)
Actors Park Yoo-chun, Yim Si-wan, Kim Woo-bin (OSEN)
Actor Park Yoo-chun in the movie "Sea Fog" (NEW)
Actor Park Yoo-chun in the movie "Sea Fog" (NEW)

Particular attention is being paid to who will be winner of the coveted rookie actor award at the 35th Blue Dragon Film Awards slated for Dec. 17.This is because the shortlisted five candidates are all rising actors or pop idols who made their screen debuts this year.The candidates for the Best New Male Actor are actors Kim Woo-bin, Choi Jin-hyuk and Ahn Jae-hong, and singers Park Yoo-chun of JYJ and Yim Si-wan of Z:EA.Among the five, Park, Kim and Yim are receiving the most spotlight, according to news reports.

Actor Lim Si-wan in the movie "The Attorney" (NEW)
Actor Lim Si-wan in the movie "The Attorney" (NEW)

Singer-actor Park was nominated for playing the part of Dong-sik in “Sea Fog.” Although the film marked his big-screen debut, he has received wide acclaim from viewers, directors and famous senior actors.Park had already clinched two rookie actor prizes, the first at the 51st Grand Bell Awards and second at the 34th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. Whether the actor can clinch a triple-crown through the Blue Dragons Film Awards is becoming a heated topic in the film industry.

Actor Kim Woo-bin in the movie "Friend- The Great Legacy" (Lotte Entertainment)
Actor Kim Woo-bin in the movie "Friend- The Great Legacy" (Lotte Entertainment)

Yim’s film “The Attorney” proved its influence, being the most nominated movie among the 21 participants. The movie also became one of the most successful Korean movie, garnering more than 11 million viewers.Yim played the role of Jin-woo, a young man who inspires the main character lawyer Song Woo-suk to fight for justice. The rookie actor was greatly complimented by viewers and film experts for his realistic acting skills, especially in the scenes where he gets brutally tortured by the police for his anti-government protests.

Kim is also a promising candidate for his participation in the noir film “Friend -- The Great Legacy.” Kim was able to perfectly play the role of Seung-hoon, a charismatic and rough young man who gets involved in the lives of gangsters.Yim and Kim were also honored at the 51st Grand Bell Awards, winning Hanwha Star Awards with actress Lee Ha-ni which are given to candidates with popular ratings.The Blue Dragon Film festival will be held at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.By Kim Min-jin ()